[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention generally relates to Web site systems, center sites, service sites, and searching methods.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] With recent computer development, industries through networks have been rapidly developed. In such a circumstance, an effective suitable configuration is required for users, service sites and contents by the service sites.
[0005] Also, recently, it is becoming more important to manage individual information (region, hobby) of a user and to distribute more suitable information, so called “One to One marketing”.
[0006] Thus, each service site monitors not only information at a registration but also actions from the user after the registration, researches characteristics of the user, and then promotes products based on the characteristics of the user.
[0007] However, a management of the service site is closed therein. Information managed by the service site is not taken over to other service sites. The individual information of each user is separately collected and managed by each service site.
[0008] Thus, the user needs to register the individual information as a new user to another service site which the user wants to use. Such a registration transaction is a troublesome for the user.
[0009] In addition, in a certain service site, when a user purchased a product, information showing that the user purchased the product and how much the user paid for the product, does not report to another service site. Accordingly, when another service site promotes products, a product promotion is conducted without information concerning purchases of the user. Thus, the product promotion is not effectively conducted.
[0010] Also, there is another problem in that an accurate retrieval according to a user state is not always conducted.
[0011] It is a general object of the present invention to provide a Web site system, a center site, a service site, and a searching method in which the above-mentioned problems are eliminated.
[0012] A more specific object of the present invention is to provide the Web site system, the Do center site, the service site, and the searching method, which can reduce overload related to a user registration from the service site, can obtain new member information from the service site, and can properly search for information corresponding to a state of the user.
[0013] The above objects of the present invention are achieved by a web site system including a center site (for example, a center site
[0014] According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce overload related to the user registration in each service site and it is also for each service site to obtain new member information.
[0015] Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0016] FIG.
[0017] FIG.
[0018] FIG.
[0019] FIG.
[0020] FIG.
[0021]
[0022] FIG.
[0023] FIG.
[0024] FIG.
[0025] FIG.
[0026] An embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to figures. (Example of System Configuration)
[0027] FIG.
[0028] The Web site system includes a user terminal
[0029] The user terminal
[0030] The user terminal
[0031] The center site
[0032] The Web site system according to the present invention is a system consisting of the center site
[0033] Also, the service sites
[0034] Member Information Database
[0035] The member information database
[0036] The member information database
[0037] The member information database
[0038] The member information database
[0039] Next, an example of storing “region” concerning the member information in the member information database
[0040] When “region” is registered, a plurality of places can be registered as a single region in the member information database
[0041] In addition, in this case, an excluded place can be specified and then the single region can be registered with excluding the specified place.
[0042] For example, as shown in FIG.
[0043] Thus, the member information concerning “region” suitable to retrieve information, which is daily used, is registered.
[0044] Also, in this case, mountains and rivers can be excluded since they are not within a range of regions for daily activities.
[0045] Operation of System
[0046] The user terminal
[0047] The user terminal
[0048] In addition, the center site
[0049] Also, when the user terminal
[0050] The service site, which receives the class information of the user, opens a home page suitable for the class. For example, the server site opens a home page related to a region of the user, for women or men, or the like.
[0051] In a case in which the user makes an action to the service sites
[0052] For example, when the user purchases a product, a product name, a price and the like are sent to the portal site
[0053] Also, the center site
[0054] By utilizing the characteristic information related to the individual purchases, a fashion product is promoted to users having the characteristics related to fashion and then the promotion can be effectively performed.
[0055] In addition, all information of actions conducted by each of the service sites
[0056] Also, each of the service sites
[0057] Service at Service site
[0058] An example showing that the user makes an order of a pizza will now be described with reference to FIG.
[0059] “Pizza Shop (Service Site A)”, “Hospital (Service Site B)”, “Language School (Service Site C)” and the like are displayed at a display of the portal site
[0060] Also, the center site
[0061] In addition, the service site A includes a database
[0062] Referring to FIG.
[0063] The user makes an order of a pizza directly from this screen.
[0064] Alternatively, the user may make an order of a pizza with reference to this screen by using another means (for example, telephone).
[0065] An example of updating the member information database of the center site will be now described with reference to FIG.
[0066] Similarly to the example described in FIG.
[0067] Subsequently, when the user applies to the language school, similarly, the member information database
[0068] As described above, the member information database
[0069] That is, the same member information database
[0070] Search method
[0071] A search method conducted by each of a plurality of the service sites
[0072] The service center
[0073] (1)First Search Method
[0074] For each service type, a range of providing information is defined. The service site
[0075] For example, as shown in FIG.
[0076] Hospitals matched with the condition
[0077] By this method, proper information corresponding to the service type can be provided.
[0078] It should be that the above numbers of the conditions are examples and can be changed based on available transportations.
[0079] (2) Second Search Method
[0080] A service range is registered each time a service is provided to each of users. Also, a shop can register the service range in the search condition database
[0081] For example, as shown in FIG.
[0082] Hence, house repairs, which may reject a repair request from the user, are not displayed at the user terminal. Reliability of a search result can be improved.
[0083] (3) Third Search Method
[0084] Searching expressions are created based on specific institutions around a current location of the user. Accordingly, information suitable for the current location of the user can be provided.
[0085] For example, if the user is near a super market D, special sales information of the super market D is retrieved from the special information database
[0086] To find the current location of the user, PHS (Personal Handy-phone System) connected to the user terminal and GPS (Global Positioning System) can be utilized.
[0087] In order for the service site
[0088] (4) Fourth Search Method
[0089] In the third search method as described above, when the user moves at a constant speed, the search condition is changed and then information suitable for a state of the user can be provided to the user.
[0090] For example, when the user moves by a train, information related to super markets and stations along a moving direction is excluded.
[0091] Therefore, it is possible to prevent from displaying useless search results.
[0092] (5) Fifth Search Method
[0093] Based on the moving direction
[0094] For example, when the user is moving toward an office of the user, information related to a destination (around the office) in the moving direction is provided.
[0095] When the user registers as a member, an office location may be included in register information of the user. The register information and the moving direction of the user are utilized to provide information suitable for the moving direction of the user.
[0096] (6) Sixth Search Method
[0097] Based on a moved distance
[0098] For example, when the moved distance of the user by a train is long, information including transfer stations can be provided.
[0099] (7) Seventh Search Method
[0100] Based on the move history
[0101] For example, when the current location
[0102] Also, when the current location
[0103] (8) Eighth Search Method
[0104] Based on a weather condition
[0105] For example, when the weather condition
[0106] FIG.
[0107] In FIG.
[0108] The CPU
[0109] The input unit
[0110] The storage unit
[0111] In accordance with instructions from the CPU
[0112] According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce overload related to the user registration in each service site and it is also for each service site to obtain new member information.
[0113] In addition, the service site can rapidly conduct necessary processes based on the member information. If necessary, the service site can automatically conduct the searching process to retrieve proper information meeting to a requirement of the user.
[0114] Also, the service site displays a homepage suitable for the requirement of the user based on the class, at the user terminal.
[0115] Moreover, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide information suitable for a service type.
[0116] Furthermore, based on the service region registered for each shop, only shops available for a specific service can be retrieved. Therefore, it is possible to improve reliability of retrieved information as a search result.
[0117] In addition, it is possible to provide information corresponding to a specific institution around a current location of the user.
[0118] The present invention is not limited to the specifically disclosed embodiments, variations and modifications, and other variations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
[0119] The present application is based on Japanese Priority Application No. 2000-183665 filed on Jun. 19, 2000, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.